The German international has played 16 times for City this season already and had scored five goals before his latest injury setback.

He arrived at the club in June whilst recuperating from a dislocated kneecap, an injury which he suffered in training in May whilst playing for Borussia Dortmund.

Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan receives treatment for an injury before leaving the pitch during the Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester. Photo by PA Images.

He had missed all of Euro 2016 and the start of the Premier League campaign with the injury, and was forced to wait until September to make his City debut.

Gündogan has already been injured for a total time of 741 days, or just over two full years, missing 134 games in the progress — despite the fact he has recently only turned 26.

Speaking after the game last night, City boss Pep Guardiola said: “I’m so sad for Ilkay Gundogan as it looks like we’ll be without him for a long time — we will know more tomorrow, it doesn’t look good.

“We’ll know the extent of the injury when he has been properly assessed by the doctor but I think he may be out for some time.”

Goals from Pablo Zabaleta and David Silva gave the Sky Blues their first Premier League home win in three months, as they avoided their third-straight league defeat.